Types of Hearing Loss

Types Of Hearing Loss

A Hearing Exam Will Help Determine The Nature Of Your Hearing Loss.

In most cases your hearing healthcare professional can determine the nature or your hearing loss and quite closely pinpoint what caused it. Hearing loss can be either conductive or sensorineural, or both.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a type of hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, which prevents sound signals from being properly transmitted to the brain. It is the most common form of hearing loss, accounting for about 90% of cases. SNHL can range from mild to profound and may affect one or both ears.

Causes

SNHL can result from various factors, including:

• Aging (presbycusis)
• Prolonged exposure to loud noises
• Genetic conditions
• Infections or illnesses
• Ototoxic medications
• Head trauma or injury

Symptoms

Common symptoms include difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, trouble distinguishing speech in noisy environments, muffled hearing, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Diagnosis and Treatment

SNHL is typically diagnosed through audiometric tests conducted by an audiologist. While it is often permanent, management options include hearing aids, cochlear implants, and communication strategies to improve quality of life.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are unable to pass efficiently through the outer or middle ear to reach the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can range from mild to severe and may affect one or both ears. Unlike sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss often has physical or mechanical causes and is frequently treatable.

Causes

• Blockages: Earwax buildup, foreign objects, or tumors in the ear canal.
• Infections: Conditions like otitis media (middle ear infection) or swimmer's ear.
• Structural Issues: Problems with the eardrum (e.g., perforation), the ossicles (tiny bones in the middle ear), or the Eustachian tube.
• Fluid Accumulation: Often due to colds, allergies, or infections.
• Bone Abnormalities: Conditions like otosclerosis, where abnormal bone growth affects the middle ear.

Symptoms

• Muffled or reduced hearing.
• A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear.
• Ear pain or tenderness.
• Difficulty hearing soft sounds or distinguishing speech.

Treatment Options

Conductive hearing loss is often reversible with appropriate treatment, which may include:

• Removing blockages, such as earwax or foreign objects.
• Treating infections with medication.
• Surgical interventions for structural issues, such as repairing a perforated eardrum or addressing ossicle problems.
• Hearing aids or assistive devices for cases where hearing cannot be fully restored.

Mixed hearing loss

Mixed hearing loss is a condition where both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss occur simultaneously. This means that there are issues in both the outer or middle ear (which affect how sound travels to the inner ear) and the inner ear or auditory nerve (which impact how sound signals are transmitted to the brain).

Treatment for mixed hearing loss often involves addressing both causes, such as managing blockages or infections while using hearing aids or cochlear implants to improve auditory function.